Stopping arrangement and coupling for the thread feed of spinning machines



Dec. 30, 1952 H. E. BADE STOPFING. ARRANGEMENT AND COUPLING FOR THE THREAD FEED OF' SPINNING MACHINES 2' SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed April 22, 1950 l IN VEN TOR. #glp/72 .Effi/Z' ggd'e.

BY %*ddf%S/m4 Patented Dec. 30, 1952 STOPPING ARRANGEMENT AND COUPLING FOR THE THREAD FEED MACHINES OF SPINNING Heinz Emil Bade, Hamburg, Germany Application April 22, 1950, Serial No. 157,558 In Germany October 17, 1949 12 Claims.

The invention relates to an arrangement for automatically stopping the thread feed in a spinning machine on thread breakage under the control of a thread feeler which in the following will also be referred to as a thread guard.

The invention is particularly suitable for jute spinning machines. For the purpose of stretching the threads before the spinning operation, spinning machines are provided with a pair of feed rollers and a pair of delivery rollers. Since the pair of delivery rollers is driven at a considerably higher speed than the pair of feed rollers, the thread which passes through both pairs of rollers is stretched in the desired manner. While usually one of the rollers of the pair of feed rollers is directly driven, the other roller is movably arranged and, for example, is urged against this driven roller by means of a counterweight. In some of the known stopping arrangements, on thread breakage the movably arranged feed roller is pushed out of engagement with the diamount of torque, especially if the thread brealrages are frequent. In the case of an axially mov ing part, this presents the disadvantage that such movement is not easily derived from the thread feeler.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of previous constructions of stopping devices for thread feeders and to provide a mechanism having an overtaking coupling 'in which a coupling member is moved out of engagement on thread breakage through the influence of the thread feeler, and in which the feed roller is preferably held fast simultaneously with this action.

it is another object to provide a coupling of the ,above character in which the essential parts are arranged around the driving shaft and which is controlled exclusively by movement in the radial plane of the shaft axis, no axial displacement being necessary for the disengaging action, and no frictional absorption of energy being required during disengagement of the coupling.

It is a further object to provide a coupling as above described, in which a coupling member is arranged eccentrically on the driving shaft, said member rotatably engaging a drive wheel or feed roller which is freely mounted on the shaft, the rotatable member being driven by the driving shaft either about its own rotary axis for the purpose of disengaging the driving wheel, or revolved about the driving shaft axis for the purpose of rotating the driving wheel.

It is also an object to provide a coupling of the above character, in which the operation of connecting and disconnecting the coupling is carried out by the drive shaft itself and does not load the thread feeler which only exercises a control function and may thus be of light and sensitive construction.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent fromthe subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings show one embodiment of the invention in simplified form and in the drawings:

Fig. l shows a section through a spinning position of a line jute spinning machine constructe according to the invention, i

Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section through two couplings constructed according to the invention of which one coupling is the same as the other in all important parts but is oppositely arranged.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-section through line 3-3 of Fig. 2 with the coupling connected,

Fig. 4 shows a cross-section through line v,flfl of Fig. 2 with the coupling disconnected, and

Fig. 5 shows a cross-section through line 5--5 of Fig. 2 and which shows in particular how the eccentric ring is engaged.

Like parts in all drawings are `indicated by the same references.

A description will first be given by reference to Figs. 2-5 of the preferred coupling used in the embodiment of the invention.

In the embodiment two couplings are provided which are the same in all important parts but are arranged oppositely. It is thus suicient to limit the description of the invention to a single one of these two couplings.

The improved coupling comprises in general a continuously driven shaft upon which is rotatably mounted one of a pair of complementary thread feed rollers. One end of this feed roller is provided with a circular recess, the axis of this recess being eccentric to the drive shaft axis. Extending into this recess is an eccentric ring, the eccentric ring surrounding the drive shaft and being rotatably mounted at one end of a detent ring. The detent ring is in turn rotatably mounted concentrically with the shaft, and in particular -may be supported by a sleeve fixed to the shaft. The eccentric ring is supported by the detent ring for rotation about an axis eccentric to the drive shaft, the eccentricity being preferably the same as that of the recess in the end of the feed roller. The fixed sleeve on the driving shaft has a radial shoulder which is engageable with .a

corresponding shoulder at the end of the eccentric ring opposite the end which extends into the feed roller recess. When the drive shaft is rotated, the sleeve shoulder will engage its corresponding eccentric ring shoulder, tofmove the eccentric ring. If the detent ring is allowed to move freely, friction between the detent ring and on the one hand eccentric ring and on the other hand the fixed sleeve, will cause the detent ring to rotate With the drive shaft. The seat for L the eccentric ring will thus move with the eccentric ring, the -result being that the eccentric ring will revolve about the shaft axis. This will cause engagement of the portion of the eccentric ring projecting into the feed roller recess with the inner wall of this recess, therefore positively driving the feed roller.

Upon thread breakage, the detent ring is locked by outside means against rotation, thereby holding the seat of the eccentric ring vin a predeter mined radial position. Continued rotation of the eccentric ring by the drive shaft Will therefore cause the eccentric ring to rotate about its own eccentric axis rather than revolve about the shaft axis. This will disengage the eccentric ring 'from the feed roller, since a small clearance or play preferably exists between the eccentric ring and the feed roller. recess. The driving of the feed roller is thus instantaneously halted. Tio prevent the feed roller from overtaking the eccentric ring from the other direction and attempting to revolve this ring about the shaft axis, means .are provided for simultaneously braking the movement of the feed roller, and this means may comprise a connection between the detent ring and the feed roller which stops the feed roller when the detent ring is stopped.

A driving ring I is secured to a driving shaft l for instance by means of a pin i l, the ring being provided with an outer bearing surface on which two oppositely directed similar detent ringsv 3 are rotatably mounted. These detent rings are provvided around their peripheries with a series of cams or teeth I2 which are preferably equally spaced. Each of these detent rings 3 is provided with an extension piece 3l extending beyond the driving ringA in which extension pieces asshown particularly in Figs. 2 and 4, an eccentric bearing 32 is provided. These bearings'serve for the rotatable positioning of an eccentric ring 7l of the same eccentricity. This eccentric ring, as shown particularly in Figs. 2 and 5, has discontinuous surfaces |3 adjacent the driving ring i. Correspondingly the driving Aring i has approximately radially extending'engaging surfaces 3 so that the eccentric ring 2 and the driving ring i engage one another duc to the extensions. The eccentric ring is driven .at a constant speed by the rotating shaft l While the surface, 3 engages with the surface $1` of the driving ring i. Hence a free space 39 is provided between the inner circumferences of the eccentric ring '2` and the shaft l.

The other end of they eccentric ring 2 projects into an eccentric bearing in a driving wheel which in the embodiment is constructed as one Uli of the feed rollers. The eccentricity of the bearing in the feed roller 4 is, in the embodiment, equal to the eccentricity of the eccentric ring 2 or its eccentric bearing in the detent ring 3. The bearing in the feed roller 4 is however made larger `Aby a few millimeters, for :example '2 mm., than the outer diameter of the eccentric ring 2. In this example of 2 mm. it is assumed that the eccentricity amounts to approximately 3 mm. The 'amount of play should be smaller than the eccentricity, since otherwise no coupling and no rotation could take place between the eccentric ring and the driving wheel. The feed roller 4 is provided in known manner with a toothed periphery which engages with the coresponding toothed periphery of the other free feed roller (see Fig. l).

The feed roller i is freely rotatable on the driving shaft 'i and longitudinal movement thereof -is prevented for example byla -collar 5. Inplace of the collar .a securing ring may be kused as shown for .one of the two couplings. In order to preventingress of dust and dirt into the interior of the coupling as Afar as possible, the :detent ring 3 engages by means of its extensions 1.5, which has a concentrically shaped `outer surface, in a corresponding concentric .bearing `in the` feed roller k3. The inner surface of the .extension i5 is formed eccentrically for guiding and supporting the eccentric ring 2.

In operation in order lto engage the coupling the deten-t ring '3' isv not held fast. it is carried by the moving driving Asha-.it lthrough friction with the constantly rotating driving ring l' and with the eccentric ringv 2. which is likewise driven positively by the shaft through vthe engaging surfaces 9, i3. Since the eccentric ring lis-guided and supportedf'by the `eccentric bearing 'in the detent ring '3 andl this detent ring rotates lccnstantly with the shaft l., the eccentricfring is vthus also revolved as a kind of crank about the rotary axis of the driving shaft. Relative movement between the outer surface of the eccentric ring and the eccentric guiding surface of the detent ring 3 cannot therefore take place. Since the eccentric bearing of the feed roller dv engages with the outer periphery of the eccentric ring :2, then at the beginning of the engagement the eccentric ring slightly overruns the lagging feed roller vin a direction opposite to that of rot-"ation of' the driving shaft. Hence `due to .the .small wedge-shaped crescent-spacel 3,() between the ecscentr-ic surface Aof the feed roller 4 and the outer periphery of the eccentric `ring 2', a wedgingor locking action occurs which causes a rigid coupling between the feed roller and the eccentric ring. Since the latter constantly moves around the rotary axis of the driving shaft, theffeed roller i is positively driven 'by this shaft.

It should be noted' that the coupling is accomplished because the clearance between the linter-- nal surface of the -feed roller eccentric bearing and the eccentric ring isrless thanthewamount of eccentricity. so that positive engagement must take place when the eccentric ring is revolved about the shaft axis. It should also be observed that the detent ring 3 does not directly transmit the coupling force, but that Aits movement only serves to allow the eccentric ring to be revolved about the shaft axis, the rotational force 'being transmitted from the shaft through the eccentric lring directly to the feed roller It.

When the coupling is to be disengaged, the detent ring is held fast by means of a catch it forming part of .a lever 21. and controlled by a thread feeler in a manner to be described subsequently, thus preventing further locking with the driving ring I. The detent ring in this manner maintains the eccentricity of the eccentric ring in a particular radial position. Since however the eccentric ring is still driven by the shaft I through the engaging surfaces 9, I3, it still continues to rotate about its eccentric axis the position of which with relation to the rotary axis of the shaft is xed in a particular manner through the eccentric bearing of the detent ring. This is possible provided that relative movement can take place between the engagement surfaces 9, I3 and that there is sufficient play between the eccentric ring 2 and on one hand the shaft and on the other hand the concentric bearing of the detent ring 3.

Through this movement of the eccentric ring 2 around its eccentric axis, it follows that the locking action between it and the feeder roller ceases since both parts are immediately separated from one another whereby the feed roller moves slightly in the direction of rotation. This movement is aided by friction between it and the driving shaft to which it is actually mounted. The driving connection between the eccentric ring and the feed roller is thus interrupted and the coupling is disconnected.

There is now the risk in some circumstances that the .feed roller when the coupling is dis "i connected is moved further in the direction of rotation since it is, for example, acted upon due to friction by the shaft 1. After some time there would occur due to this movement a further wedging action between the eccentric ring still rotating about its eccentric axis and the feed roller. The feed roller would then tend to carry round the eccentric ring about the axis of the driving shaft. This would lead to a break since the eccentric position of the eccentric ring is in fact xedly maintained by the detent ring in the manner described. In order to prevent this danger, means are provided in order to limit further rotation of the feed roller from the coupling position. In the embodiment a pin I0 fixed to the feed roller serves for this purpose as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the pin engagingY with suitable play in a notch I1 provided in the detent ring 3. It will be understood that other structural arrangements could be used for braking or stopping the feed roller upon stopping of the detent ring, and that the particular structure herein described is merely illustrative of a preferred arrangement.

According to Fig. 1 in which the stopping arrangement is shown in the spinning position, the thread I8 runs over a thread guide I9, thence between the two feed rollers 4, I4 and is then guided over any type of stretching device 2&3 between the delivery rollers ZI, 22 which in known manner are driven at a considerably greater speed than the feed rollers. 'I'he thread I8 is then drawn through a iiyer 23 and wound. on to a spool 24.

A coupling such as described in reiation to Figs. 2 to 5 is arranged on the driving shaft 1 of which only the feed roller 4 and the detent ring 3 with its cams I2 are shown. On the frame of the spinning machine is rotatably mounted somewhat above the driving shaft 1 by means of a bolt 25, a feeler lever 26 acting as a thread feeler of which the longer depending lever arm carries a roller 29 for instance of porcelain, rotatably mounted thereon, the roller lying against the tensioned thread during spinning at a point between the delivery rollers 2|, 22 and the flyer 23. The apex of the short weight-loaded arm 33 of the feeler lever 26 engages with an arm of a pawl 21 likewise constructed as a bell-crank lever and rotatably mounted by a pin 28 on the frame of the spinning machine.

Due to the tension in the thread, the feeler lever is prevented from rotating in aclockwise direction under the influence of gravity. In this position it holds the free arm of the pawl 21 out of the path of the cams I2 of the detent ring 3. By a suitable choice of the lever ratio or the feeler lever 26 and the pawl 21, disengagement of the coupling following a slight movement of the feeler lever 21 in the clockwise direction due, for instance, to inequalities in the thread can be avoided. It will be understood that other structural arrangements of the thread feeler are possible, and in particular the feeler lever could be allowed to operate directly on the detent ring, thus decreasing the cost of manufacture. i I

On thread breakage however the feeler lever 2t is no longer supported by the thread tension lso that it can swing in a clockwise direction about its centre of gravity. The pawl 21 is thus released and likewise swings so far under the influence of gravity in an anticlockwise direction that one of the cams I2 on the detent ring 3' strikes against the free arm whereby further rotation of the detent ring is prevented. The coupling is thereby disengaged and the feed roller i braked as already described in connection with "g s. 2 to 5 so that thread feed is interrupted. it will be understood that other types of actuating means for the coupling could be employed, and in particular the coupling could be engaged and disengaged by electromagnetic means controlled by a switch such as a tilting mercury switch operated by the thread feeler.

v In order to bring back the feeler lever 26 to the spinning position it is now moved to its raised position whereby the coupling is again engaged and the thread feed again established. At the same time it is only necessary to conneet the end of the thread on the spool side with the end of the thread from the Vfeed roller. The operation of a drop weight and thereafter the bringing in of a catch with the aid of the thread feeler as is necessary in the known stopping arrangements is entirely avoided. Dealing with thread breakage is accordingly greatly sim# plied by the invention.

There is in addition a further important advantage of the invention. The coupling is only engaged again when the thread feeler is brought back to its spinning position which is fixed by the tension in the thread. This characteristic is also `similarly advantageous in connection with spoel changing for which the machine must be stopped. In known stopping arrangements employing drop weights, the mechanism is disconnected while the machine is running at the slower speed since the thread tension is not suiiicient to hold the thread feeler in the spinning position. In general the drop weights have been locked in readiness while the locking device was coupled with the lever controlling the connection and stopping.

The provision of such additional complications 1s not necessary with the present invention to enable spool changing to be effected. Before starting up the machine again it is only neces- -saryto ensure :that .thegroller 2.9 .on the, vfeeler lever 12.6 r`lies .on the correctqside of .the thread It. Immediately the machine starts, the thread 18 is .tensioned since theflyer 26 .has a higher speed than the delivery rollers `2|, .22. The consequent tensioning .of the thread immediately brings the feeler lever 26 into its spinning position, shown in Fig. 1, whereby :the .coupling is engaged and a thread breakage is avoided. This thread tensioning with corresponding engagement of the thread feeler .also takes place in the known arrangements. There however the engagement of the lthread feeler does not again connect up the thread feed. Since hand starting, for instance on'.a..single thread breakage, is not simultaneously possible for all the spinning positions of a. .spinning machine, there is in the known arrangements no other possibility than to take precautions .that on starting all stopping arrangements are operative.

:The improved coupling of this invention is also advantageous, especially :in spinning machine stopping arrangements, in that it is operated by a small amount of power. The friction losses when the coupling is disconnected are relatively small-and .as aresult a larger number of spinning positions on a spinning vmachine can be efficiently operated. Furthermore, since there are no axially moving parts, the construction is greatly simplified and the cost of manufacture reduced. The coupling `has the further advantage of free running since it can be. rotated with the driving shaft stationary. As aresult of these advantages, thecoupling nds application in machines other than `spinning machines, such as machine :I

too1s\power'vehicles and gear transmission boxes.

Having now particularly described and ascertainedl the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

1. In a coupling mechanism, a continuously rotating shaft, a driven member rotatably mounted .on said shaft, a continuously driven coupling member eccentrio'to said shaft and rotatably engageable *withV said driven member, and means for causing-said coupling member to be held in a fixed radial position relative to said shaft, whereby its coupling engagement with said driven member is halted.

2. A coupling for connecting a continuously rotatingA shaft vwith a driven member rotatably mounted on said shaft, said couplingl comprising a. coupling member for transmitting the rotation of said shaft to said drivenmember, a disconnecting member engaging saidV coupling member andadapted to disengage said coupling member fromsaiddriven member, and means for braking said driven member simultaneously'with the disengagement of said coupling member.

.3. Acoupling for connecting a continuously rotating shaft with a thread feed roller rotatably mounted on said shaft, said coupling comprising a. coupling member for transmitting the rotation of said shaft to said thread feed roller, a dis- Connecting member engaging said coupling memberandadapted to disengage said coupling member upon thread breakage, andv .means for braking, said feed roller simultaneously with the disengagement of saidv coupling member.

4. A mechanism for automaticalig.r topping a threadfeed, comprising a continuously rotating Shafiga thread feed-roller rotatably mounted on said shaft, a coupling member eccentricaily mounted y'on said l sha-ft androtatably engageable with said feed roller, .and means operable by thread -breakage for Acausing said coupling `merriber to beheld in .a xed radial position relative to said shaft, whereby the movement of said feed roller is halted.

5. In an arrangement for automatically .stopping a thread feed, va continuously rotating shaft, a feed roller rotatably mounted on said shaft, an eccentric ring surrounding said shaft, a detent ring rotatably mounted on said shaft, said .detent ring rotatably supporting said eccentric ring vin a position eccentric Vto the shaft axis, means for positively moving said eccentric ring upon rotation of -said shaft, said detent ring being normally rotatable with said shaft whereby said eccentric ring revolves about the shaft axis, .and mutually engaging surfaces on said eccentric ring and said feed roller, whereby the revolving eccentric `ring will cause positive rotation of said feed roller.

6. The combination according to claim 5, further provided with means for `preventing the ro tation of said detent ring, said means being operated by thread breakage, whereby continued rotation of said shaft will cause rotation of said eccentric ring about its eccentric axis.

'7. A stopping arrangement for thread feeders, comprising a rotating shaft, a thread feed roller rotatably mounted on said shaft, an eccentric ring surrounding saids-haft, a detent ring rotatably mounted on said shaft, said detent ring having a supporting portion for said eccentric ring so as to hold the eccentric ring eccentrically to said shaft, a pair of mutually engaging radial shoulders on said shaft and said eccentric ring, whereby rotation of said shaft moves said eccentric ring, said detent ring being normally rotatable with said shaft so that said eccentric ring revolves about the shaft axis, an eccentric recess on said feed roller, a portion of said eccentric ring projecting into said recess, whereby the revolving movement of said eccentric ring positively drives said feed roller, and means controlled by thread breakage for stopping the rotation of Said det-ent ring, whereby said eccentric ring will be held in a particular radial position relative to said shaft and will rotate about its own eccentric axis.

8. The combinationaccording to claim 7, fur ther providedwith means for braking said feed roller simultaneously with the stopping of. said detent ring.

9. A devicefor stopping a thread feeder, come prising a rotating drive shaft, a threadfeed .roller rotatably mounted on Isaid drive shaft and adapted to cooperate with a complementary roller, a drive ring fixed to said drive shaft, an eccentric ring surrounding said drive shaft, said drive ring and said eccentric ring having `mutually engaging radial shoulders whereby rotation of said shaft moves said eccentric ring, a detent ring rotatably mounted on said drive ring, `said detent ring being normally rotatable with said drive ring, an eccentric bearing on said detent ring for supporting said eccentric ring eccentrically to said drive shaft, whereby during normal rotation of the parts said eccentric ring revolves about the shaft axis, a surface on said feed roller engageable by said revolving eccentric ring to ypositively drive the feed roller, and means operated by thread breakage for stopping the rotation yof said detent ring, whereby said eccentric ring is held in a particular radial position relative to the shaft axis and is rotated about its own eccentric axis, thus stopping the movement of Saidfeed roller.

10. An arrangement for stopping a thread feed, comprising a rotating shaft, a thread feed roller rotatably mounted on said shaft, and eccentric ring surrounding said shaft, means for supporting said eccentric ring eccentrically to Isaid shaft, said supporting means being normally rotatable with said shaft whereby said eccentric ring revolves about the shaft axis, an eccentric surface on said feed roller engageable by said revolving eccentric ring to positively drive the feed roller, said surface and said eccentric ring having relative play less than the amount of eccentricity of said eccentric ring, and means controlled by thread breakage for stopping the rotation of said eccentric ring supporting means, whereby the positive drive of said feed roller is stopped.

11. An arrangement for stopping a thread feed, comprising a rotating shaft, a thread feed roller rotatably mounted on said shaft, and eccentric ring surrounding said shaft, means for supporting said eccentric ring eccentrically to said shaft, said supporting means being normally rotatable with said shaft whereby said eccentric ring revolves about the shaft axis, an eccentric surface on said feed roller engageable by said revolving eccentric ring to positively drive the feed roller, said surface and said eccentric ring having relative play less than the amount of eccentricity of said eccentric ring, means controlled by thread breakage for stopping the rotation of said eccentric ring supporting means, whereby the positive drive of said feed roller is stopped, and means for braking said feed roller simultaneously with the stopping of said eccentric ring supporting means, said braking means comprising a mutual- 1y engageable pin and notch on said feed roller and said detent ring.

12. A stopping arrangement for a thread feeder comprising a pair of complementary thread feed rollers, a continuously rotating shaft for driving one of said rollers, a coupling member driven by said shaft and engageable with said positively driven feed roller, means for disengaging said coupling member from said feed roller andfor simultaneously braking the movement of said feed roller, and thread feeler means for actuating said disengaging and braking means, said thread feeler means comprising an arm having a thread feeler engageable with the thread on ione side of said complementary rollers, said arm being pivoted at the other side of said complementaryV rollers, whereby the leverage of said arm is relatively long.

HEINZ EMIL BADE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 232,240 Coltman Sept. 14, 1880 1,462,896 Barksdale et al. July 24, 1923 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 260,389 Great Britain Nov. 4, 1926 286,762 Italy June 20, 1931 371,504 Italy May 26, 1939 

